A Walk In The Wilderness (20 page)

   Caitlin thought that Paris, France was amazing as they flew in over the enormous city.  She disembarked with wonder in her eyes.  She’d never dreamed she’d ever find herself in Paris, especially with someone like David Michael Majors.  There was a limo waiting to take them to the theatre.  There was no time to go to the motel first.

     David took her hand in the car, and winked at her.  “You’re going to have to watch Skyler tonight.  He’ll be free while I’m on stage, and we both know how he feels about black leather, if Connie's wardrobe is any indication.”  he warned.  “I’ll be talking to the Security guards and Roland.  But I want you where I can see you at
all times
.  All right?”

    “All right.  I think maybe it would be safer if I were in the audience.  Do you think?”

     He sighed.  “Actually, I do.  You can stay with me while he’s performing, and then I’ll have someone take you through a side door to the front row.  I’ll ask them to reserve a seat for you.  Then, when I’m done playing, they can bring you backstage to me again.”

    When they arrived at the theatre, David took her hand and led her into the building.  They went directly to his dressing room, and David got on the phone immediately.  Skyler was already performing, Caitlin could hear him above them, pounding on the keys. 

     David was speaking in fluid French when a tall, thin man came through the door.

      “David.”  he said severely, shooting an unfriendly look at Caitlin. 

      “Hello, Will.”  David replied, hanging up the phone.  “Listen, I need some help tonight.  Get Caitlin a front row seat while I’m performing, and don’t let Skyler near her, or there will be fireworks.”

       The man named Will looked at her askance.  “What’s the trouble?”

    David laughed.  “Skyler wants her and Skyler can’t have her, that’s the trouble.”

     “So what’s it to you?”  Will sneered.  “Stay out of Skyler’s problems, David.  You know better.”

      David gave him a pointed look.  “Apologize, Will.  The lady happens to be with me.” he explained coldly.

       Will gave Caitlin a scathing look, and bowed.  “My apology. 
Ma’am
.”

       Caitlin raised her eyebrows and pressed her lips together in response. 

       “There are no seats.  Certainly no front row seats, David.”

      “Then we’ve got to make another plan.”  David sighed.  He looked at Caitlin apologetically.  Then he turned back to Will.  “I want three good security guards assigned to Caitlin.  Have her backstage where I can see her at all times.  I warn you, Will.  If I have to stop the concert to take care of things, I will.  So keep Skyler away from her.”

       Will sighed.  “I’ll see what I can do.” he sighed.

       “Thank you.”  David answered brusquely.

     When Will was gone, David hung his garment bag up and unzipped it.  He pulled out a pair of black slacks, a black shirt, and a white, collarless leather jacket.  He took the shirt and slacks into the washroom with him, and returned wearing them.  He put on the light jacket just as a woman knocked, and asked if he was ready for makeup. 

     David nodded and sat down.  She was a good artist, and had him done in record time, so that his features could be seen in the big auditorium.

     Will returned with three very strong looking men in tow.   “Here you are, David.  Escorts for the lady.” he said with extreme bravado.

      The three men looked bad enough to handle anything that might come along.  David nodded at them, and looked each one of them in the eye. 

     “Protect the lady.” he instructed them succinctly.  “Skyler Vaughn is obsessed with her, and she doesn’t fancy his attention.  See that she doesn’t get any.”  he instructed.

     The three men nodded, and David smiled at her.  “Let’s go.”  he said lightly.  He took her hand, and they went up through the wings.  They could hear Skyler doing an encore. 

     Will appeared with a pretty decent chair for Caitlin, and once again she was reminded of times with Skyler.  She shuddered and dismissed the memories immediately.

      “Are you all right?” David asked in her ear. 

     “Yes.  Just not looking forward to seeing him again.”  she admitted. 

     He smiled.  “Don’t worry.” he advised.

     She smiled back.  “I’m not.”  she assured him.  She took his arm and looked up at him with perfect trust in her eyes. 

     He seemed to withdraw just a bit, again.  She didn’t know what to think.  She’d fixed her makeup on the plane, and as far as she knew, she looked all right.  She squared her shoulders and determined not to get weepy over every slight frown David had.  It was a thing that required self-discipline, though.  She was very sensitive to him.

       Skyler finished his performance and came backstage.  He slowed his walk as he saw Caitlin attached to David’s arm.  His brows crashed together, and he turned to walk toward them.  The three guards closed about them threateningly.  Skyler stopped and looked at them, long and hard.  He stared at David with pure hatred. 

     Roland appeared from out of nowhere, huffing and puffing.  “Skyler, go to your dressing room.  Stay there until you leave the building.”  he instructed.   “You are to leave this lady strictly alone.”

      Skyler turned hard eyes on Caitlin.  “Fine.  I already got what I wanted from ‘er.  I  have no further interest in the slut.”  he sneered.  He turned on his heel and walked away.

      David’s biceps hardened, as did his expression.  Caitlin tightened her grip and caressed his strong arm.  “David, it doesn’t matter.  You have to go on stage.”  she reminded him softly.

      He looked down at her, and his expression softened a bit.  “Yeah.  I don’t like it, though.”  he said tightly.

     “Thank you.” she said with a warm smile.  “Now forget him and his lies.  Just turn your heart to the music.” 

      He hugged her soundly and kissed her cheek.  “I will.  Stay where I can see you, so that I can have some peace of mind, Cait.” he said quietly.   She nodded, and released his arm as they introduced him.  He straightened his jacket and walked out front, to a roar of applause and shouting.  Paris, France welcomed him heartily, indeed. 

      Caitlin pulled her chair to a place that gave her a good view of David.  He did, in fact, look up a number of times to ensure that all was well with Caitlin.  Her security guards stuck like glue, and Skyler did not make an appearance. 

  Caitlin enjoyed the performance despite Skyler’s tantrum and David’s distraction.  He was so incredibly good that no one noticed that there was anything wrong.  Caitlin knew it was bothering him only because David kept looking up at her.  She smiled and he smiled back, albeit a bit tensely.  It touched her that he was so concerned for her.

     When he was done, the crowd roared.  It was a different program than the one she’d seen him do before, and crowd definitely wanted an encore.  David gave it to them.  And then, he gave them a second one. 

      Finally, he ended the program and came backstage.  Will had a towel waiting for him, and he needed it.  Then he put an arm around Caitlin and drew her along with him. 

     Skyler was lounging in his dressing room doorway, when they went by.  David and Caitlin didn’t look at him, but he certainly stared at them.  The three security guards were doing a very good job.

     “David,”  Will objected as they entered David’s dressing room and closed the door behind them all.  “Let us take the lady upstairs, while you get ready to go.”

     David turned and gave Will a look that didn’t brook argument.  “I don’t think so.”  he informed him icily.  “The lady will stay here.  The three guards will be outside this door.  When I am ready to go, the car will be brought alongside the building and the door will open so that we don’t even have to step outside.  It’s a very simple security operation, Will.  See if it can’t be figured out.”

     “David, you can’t have the lady in your room with you.”

    “Watch me.”  he offered evenly.  “I think I can go into the loo by myself.  My three friends here will be quite handy if the lady and I should happen to get carried away.”

        “David, it doesn’t look good.”

     “We’ll be leaving very soon.  Did you get the message that I wanted a different hotel than Skyler?”

       “Yes.  I got you changed.”

       “Good.  Get the lady an adjoining room.”

       Will gasped.  “David,”  he objected.

      “Do it, Will.  I’m not taking anything from Skyler.  And neither is Caitie.  That’s it.”

      “Is that all there is to this, David?” he queried suspiciously.

      “That is absolutely all there is to this.”  David assured him.

      He sighed and rubbed his neck.  “All right.”  he agreed dubiously.

     David excused himself, and took a shower.  He emerged wearing black jeans and a Henley shirt with his black leather jacket and boots.  He zipped his clothes into the bag and hung it on the rack.

      “Let’s go.”  he urged, giving Caitlin a bolstering wink.

      Caitlin followed him out into the hall.  He took her hand and led her down to the car.  They were tightly flanked by the three security guards.  As they neared the back door, David waved them ahead. 

     The guards pushed the door open, and looked around.  The limo pulled up close. There were a lot of fans hanging around outside, hoping for a glimpse of David.  They rushed and rioted as the limo pulled up to the door.  The guards flanked either side, and David pushed Cait through the human tunnel forcefully.  Then, he squeezed through and someone closed the limo door behind him.

     They sighed with relief as they slowly pulled away from the building.  David slid down in the seat and rubbed his eyes.  Then he opened the refrigerator and pulled out a Gatorade.  “Want one?”  he asked tiredly.

      “No, thank you.  You go ahead.”  she urged.

      “I need it.”  he replied.  He made very short work of it.

     The hotel was some distance from the theatre, and it appeared to be very nice.  When the driver let them off at the door, David helped her out and took her inside.  He spoke in French to the clerk, who smiled serenely.  He handed David two keys, and pointed them down the hall. 

     “Merci.”  David mumbled, and they began walking.  David was in One Fifteen, and Caitlin was in One Seventeen.  They were side by side.  David opened her room first, and went in.  It was very lovely.  He locked the outer door and opened the adjoining door to his room.  He turned to her and smiled. 

     “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d rather that you open this door just before you go to bed.  I’d like to hear anything and everything that goes on over here.”  he requested.

     “I don’t mind at all.”  she agreed immediately.  “Sky didn’t look so happy to see me, did he?”

     “I think that seeing you, about drives him crazy.”  David growled.  “But he’d better behave himself.”  He went through to his room, and put his duffel bag in the bath.  “Wake me up when you wake up, will you, love?”  he instructed tiredly.

      “All right.”  Caitlin agreed.  She had no such intention.  David was exhausted, and she was determined that he’d sleep as long as possible. 

    He got on the phone and requested that their calls be held, which Caitlin appreciated. 

    There was a knock on Caitlin’s door, and her suitcase was delivered.  Echoing this, a knock came to David’s door with a similar delivery.  He thanked the bellboys and tipped them both.

    Then, he said goodnight.   He kissed her brow and squeezed her shoulders, and went to his own room.

    Caitlin sighed, and dug her nightgown out of her garment bag.  She hung the rest of her things up and put her underwear in the dresser.  She went into the bathroom, changed into her gown, and got ready to go to bed.  She sighed as she slipped in between the sheets.  She was very tired too, if she thought about it.  The strain of seeing Skyler again had been no small thing.  But she had done it, with David’s help.   

     She closed her eyes and smiled.  That was the last thing she remembered.

    Caitlin awoke to warm sunshine spilling through the window and a summer breeze filling the room with fresh air.  She sat up and looked at her clock.  It was noon.  She frowned worriedly, and climbed out of bed. 

     When she looked through the adjoining door into David’s room, she saw that he was still sound asleep.  His bare shoulders were brown and strong, in sharp contrast against the white sheets.  His face was relaxed and beautiful.  She smiled and stared at him for a moment.  Then, she went to the shower.  When she reappeared, she was wearing the black suit with pants and the lace camisole underneath.  She looked young and fresh, had she known it, and she smelled like lavender soap and roses.

     The scent and the sound of soft humming slowly stirred David from sleep.  He rolled over and listened, a smile on his face.  He got out of bed and walked to the door, his pyjama bottoms keeping it all decent enough.  He tapped on the door and called to her before he put his face into the opening.

      “Hey.  You dressed?” he asked lightly.

      “Yes.  Good afternoon.”  she answered.

     “Yeah.  So it is.”  he said, looking in to get an eyeful of beautiful girl.  She looked sophisticated and innocent at the same time.  David shook his head, wondering how that could be achieved.  She was amazing.  “Hungry?” he asked hopefully.

     “Yep.”  she confirmed, to his surprise.

     “Good.  Let me shower, and we’ll hit the town.”  he suggested.

    Caitlin came to the door and looked at David, bare from the waist up.  She narrowed her eyes in a way that told him he was very naughty, and smiled.  “All right.  Let me know when you’re decent.”  she suggested sweetly, and closed the door soundly between them.